Dollars in pipe image from Shutterstock.

Transportation funding until May

A battle between the House and Senate over extending transportation funding went down to the eleventh hour. The Senate ultimately acceded to the House’s version after the House left town, leaving little choice. (Streetsblog, Politico)  

Eight-car Blues

One week into Silver Line service, and Blue Line riders are already experiencing the pinch. With only five Blue Line an hour at peak, riders are wondering why more eight-car trains aren’t in service to make up the difference. (WAMU)  

Silver doesn’t sparkle?

Post architecture critic Phillip Kennicott reviews the Silver Line stations. He finds them to be overly value-engineered and lacking in the grandeur of the original Harry Weese-designed stations.  

Lots of advice

Virginia Delegate Patrick Hope, who supports holding a referendum on the Columbia Pike streetcar, will ask Attorney General Mark Herring for an advisory opinion it’s legal to hold one. (InsideNOVA)  

Cabbies unionize

Montgomery County taxi drivers have decided to unionize with the National Taxi Workers Alliance. The drivers are demanding changes to credit card transaction fees they pay to the county, among other regulations. (Post)  

Food trucks have changed

Have food trucks killed food trucks? The industry was once a hotbed of experimental entrepreneurs; now, as it’s matured, it’s gotten more stable but also perhaps less interesting. (Post) … Maybe the new frontier is on boats: The Potomac River has its first floating food truck. (City Paper)  

Two new Corcoran proposals

While a judge considers the Corcoran’s merger with GWU, the University of Maryland and a wealthy philanthropist have proposed two alternatives to save the financially-troubled art museum. (Post, WTOP)  

Eastern Markets lease woes

The majority of merchants at Eastern Market are not currently operating under a lease with DC. DC is working to reach agreements, but merchants say issues other than money are getting in the way. (WBJ)  

And…

The search has begun for a temporary home for the MLK Library. (WBJ) … TV ads in Missouri argue more highway spending will make people safer even though reduced driving would make everyone safer. (Streetsblog) … PETA has called on WMATA to stop using traps to capture rodents. (City Paper)